HomerPenguin wrote:When you lose every meaningful game you play against a team for the same reasons every time, including game 1 of your playoff series, it doesn't bode well for the series. It's not over, but the fat lady has been told to be on call.

Well, at least its Philly, which means she won't need to book a hotel room or anything...

It's all about momentum....we peaked to early with that 11 game winning streak. We looked unbeatable. The last 2 weeks they have played like crap. Very sloppy and lackadaisical. People have a right to be pissed and panic. Blow a 3 goal lead at home and you just aren't going to win too many series.

I brought it up a couple days ago. The Pens had a pretty lackluster winning percentage when leading after one this season. They weren't blowing a lot of late leads, but they were blowing a lot of early ones. Tonight makes me so upset because this is exactly what they should have been bracing for when they were up 3-0 after one and they let it happen anyway! I can't stand the way this team lets the same stuff beat them over and over. It's 2010 all over again. Hopefully this year has a better ending.

Froggy wrote:i dont think it was so much the pens stopped playing after the first, but the flyers started playing after the first. they are a good team. we need to play better, and answer back when they come at us. no lead is safe

HomerPenguin wrote:When you lose every meaningful game you play against a team for the same reasons every time, including game 1 of your playoff series, it doesn't bode well for the series. It's not over, but the fat lady has been told to be on call.

I don't like being up that much that early. I mean, I was happy about it, but there was a pile of hockey left to play, and you could just see them come off the gas. Philly was methodical, PGH was lackadaisical.

Unfortunately, it's not a new problem, and it's yet to be fixed. However, PGH is not going to be up that much that early every time. This team plays better - as a rule - with a sense of urgency.

Gabe wrote:The Flyers wanted it more. The same lazy play from the same lazy half dozen guys ended the game for us tonight. Time to regroup, recommit to their game and let this one go.

I'm not sure it's laziness or Bylsma getting outsmarted. I think it's the fact that our defense is extremely soft and just like Milbury and Jones said, Flyers were banging these guys around and getting the pucks. I believe it's a roster issue where two guys we signed for a lot of money are small and afraid of physical contact. We looked like a swarm of locusts in the first, but once we let up a bit and allowed Flyers to play their game in our zone from about the halfway point in the 3rd, it just ooked like it was only a matter of time before they scored. Our forwards also reverted to playing on the outside and most shots we fired from that point on had no chance of going in on Bryzgalov. An absolutely disgusting performance toward the end. Shero has to address our issues on defense in the off-season.

When will people realize that the playoffs are peaks and valleys? Period one was a peak. We are now in a valley. We were down 2-0 against the Caps and won. We were down 2-0 against the RedWings and won. There are reasons the playoffs are 7 games and not 1,3, or 5.

Gabe wrote:The Flyers wanted it more. The same lazy play from the same lazy half dozen guys ended the game for us tonight. Time to regroup, recommit to their game and let this one go.

I'm not sure it's laziness or Bylsma getting outsmarted. I think it's the fact that our defense is extremely soft and just like Milbury and Jones said, Flyers were banging these guys around and getting the pucks. I believe it's a roster issue where two guys we signed for a lot of money are small and afraid of physical contact. We looked like a swarm of locusts in the first, but once we let up a bit and allowed Flyers to play their game in our zone from about the halfway point in the 3rd, it just ooked like it was only a matter of time before they scored. Our forwards also reverted to playing on the outside and most shots we fired from that point on had no chance of going in on Bryzgalov. An absolutely disgusting performance toward the end. Shero has to address our issues on defense in the off-season.

Agreed. Martin and Z are way to soft............Martin looks like he skates in quicksand and frankly doesn't give the impression that he cares if he doesn't win the battles in the corner...

I have no problem with taking the foot off the gas offensively being up 3-0 at home. If you do that, you still have to work your butt off in the d and neutral zones. The Pens did neither. They literally gave up trying after the first period. Very disappointing.

Calm down everyone. Series isn't over. We will find out everything we need to know about this team on Friday.

Gabe wrote:The Flyers wanted it more. The same lazy play from the same lazy half dozen guys ended the game for us tonight. Time to regroup, recommit to their game and let this one go.

I'm not sure it's laziness or Bylsma getting outsmarted. I think it's the fact that our defense is extremely soft and just like Milbury and Jones said, Flyers were banging these guys around and getting the pucks. I believe it's a roster issue where two guys we signed for a lot of money are small and afraid of physical contact. We looked like a swarm of locusts in the first, but once we let up a bit and allowed Flyers to play their game in our zone from about the halfway point in the 3rd, it just ooked like it was only a matter of time before they scored. Our forwards also reverted to playing on the outside and most shots we fired from that point on had no chance of going in on Bryzgalov. An absolutely disgusting performance toward the end. Shero has to address our issues on defense in the off-season.

Shero should have done something at the deadline- we all saw this coming and he sat back and did nothing. Martin is an absolute joke - the play tonight when he dodged a player to avoid a hit reminded me of Game 7 against MTL when Gonchar watched someone go by him.

Froggy wrote:i dont think it was so much the pens stopped playing after the first, but the flyers started playing after the first. they are a good team. we need to play better, and answer back when they come at us. no lead is safe

The Pens had NO forecheck in the 2nd or 3rd. They tried to play it safe. It never works for them. Philly dumped and hit, dumped and hit. They played like they were planning for seven games. They played like they were trying to wear out our blueliners. Ironic that I used to associate that philosophy with the Pens. Pens played like they were scared.....like they were just hoping to survive until the clock ran out.